School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3In the latest addition about this popular detective, Nate solves his first international case without ever leaving his neighborhood. He receives a cryptic postcard from his friend Rosamond. She writes that she has lost something during her Scandinavian vacation and that if Nate refuses to find it she will pester the King of Sweden for help. The lost item is tiny, lives in dark places, and has a long nose. Nate and his trusty dog, Sludge, begin visiting Rosamond's friends in search of clues. A picture examined under a magnifying glass leads him to believe that the lost item is a troll. He goes to the library for information on trolls and then back to his house for his trademark brain foodpancakes. Deductive reasoning, combined with astute observations of Sludge's burial of a bone, finally saves the day. Although Simont's appealing watercolor illustrations provide visual clues, this case is significantly more difficult than others in this series. This particular volume is for avid fans rather than novices. Initiates may need more familiarity with the personalities of these distinctive characters to grasp some of the wry humor. Advise children to begin with earlier "Nate the Great" books and return to this one for full enjoyment.Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Detective Nate gets his first international case when a friend loses somethingÄhe doesn't know whatÄwhile visiting Sweden. Ages 6-9. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
In the latest entry in this popular series, Nate's weird friend Rosamond loses the souvenir troll she bought while visiting Scandinavia. She threatens to go straight to the king of Sweden for help, but Nate deduces the troll's whereabouts first, thereby saving the king from Rosamond. Simont's droll illustrations match the tone of this mystery; the cover, however, betrays the solution. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 1^-3. With Nate the Great's friend Rosamond traveling in Scandinavia, it's looking like a slow summer for the boy detective. A postcard from Rosamond challenges Nate to discover what she lost and where she lost it, or she will have to ask the king of Sweden for assistance in solving the case. Taking pity on the king ("He did not look like anyone who would want to be hired by Rosamond"), Nate follows the clues and cracks the case without ever leaving his neighborhood. The long-distance sleuthing seems a bit less involving than Nate's usual adventures, but fans of the series will want to read the latest. As always, Simont's lively illustrations provide a colorful counterpoint to Sharmat's droll, understated humor. --Carolyn Phelan